Electrical switch and combination electrical resistor and switch



FebQZO, 1968 Filed Jan. 4, 1965 J. D. VAN BENTHUYSEN 3,370,261 ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND COMBINATION ELECTRICAL RESISTOR AND SWITCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGURE 2.

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INVENTOR JOHN D. VAN BENTHUYSEN 1968 J. D. VAN BENTHUYSEN 3,

ELEC RICAL SWITCH AND COMBINATION ELECTRICAL Filed Jan. 4, 1965 RESISTOR AND SWITCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGURE 3.

3.5. N 35c a l I 42o- 4,1 34

F|GURE 5/ Q I 3 INVENTOR JOHN D. VAN BENTHUYSEN ,1 J. D. VAN BENTHUYSEN 3, 7

ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND COMBINATION ELECTRICAL RESISTOR AND SWITCH 35heets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 4, 1965 )23 40 I4 I42 144 I45 m E i FIGURE !0 E \\\KXI \\WI v INVENTOR /////4./Y h A JOHN D. VAN BENTHUYSEN m2 BY FIGURE '8 ATTQQNEY United States Patent 3,370,261 ELECTRICAL SWITCH AND COMBINATION ELECTRICAL RESISTOR AND SWITCH John D. Van Benthuysen, Elkhart, Ind., assignor to CTS Corporation, Elkhart, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Ian. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 422,935 20 Claims. (Cl. 338-198) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE I A component such as an electrical switch having a guide means and an entire contactor supported by the guide means and slideable from a first position to a second position as a cam engages and shifts a cam follower connected to the contactor.

The present invention relates to electrical controls and, more particularly, to an electrical switch and to a combination variable resistance and electrical switch control.

The prior art is replete with various types of electrical switches including slide switches, snap action switches and over center switches, and variable resistance controls combined with such switches. It is to be understood that the term electrical control is used generically herein to designate devices for controlling the current or voltage in an electrical circuit and that an electrical switch as well as a combination variable resistance and electrical switch control are as usual species of electrical controls. One of the important advantages of a snap action switch is that the switch is tease-proof, i.e., the contactor cannot be maintained in a neutral position by carefully controlling or manipulating the actuator in a center position of a two position switch thereby causing the contactor momentarily to engage and disengage the stationary contact. Such weakness in switch design generally occurs when the movement or rotation of the actuator is in the same direction as the intended movement of the contactor. Th-us ideal snap action and over center switches currently available on the market for controlling energization of electronic circuits require a large number of parts including one or more springs, bearings, levers and the like to obtain the desired rapid make and break, that is, a snap action. Switch design, however, has not kept abreast of the demands of the changing electronic industry. It would, therefore, be desirable, to provide an ideal tease-proof snap action electrical switch employing a movable contactor of simplified construction wherein the switch actuator is moved in a direction opposite to the intended direction of the contactor to actuate the switch.

An electrical control of the combination type, namely a combination variable resistance and electrical switch control, generally comprises two housings connected in tandem. Such construction is preferable to facilitate assembly of and to avoid interference between the many parts of the control. For example, the stop member of the variable resistance control employedvfor limiting angular rotation of the contact wiping the resistance element is disposed in a different plane from the contacts of the switch to avoid interference with the actuating portion of the switch. It would, therefore, also be desirable to simplify a combination variable resistance and electrical switch control by eliminating a number of parts of the switch including the switch housing and fixedly securing an electrical switch to the rear of the variable resistance control housing.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical control having the various desirable features set forth above.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an electrical control with improved means for mounting the control to a mounting panel to facilitate soldering of the control terminals into a circuit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical control having a slideable contactor shiftable by a cam connected to an actuator rotatable through a substantially greater angle than necessary for performing another function after the switch is energized or deenergized.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical control employing detent means for maintaining the contactor in a first or second stable position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical switch employing a contactor having a contact shoe secured to a cam follower movable to a labile neutral position before the contact shoe is sifted into or out of engagement with a stationary contact.

Still an additional object of the present invention resides in an electrical switch employing a U-shaped contactor having a contact shoe integral with one of the legs thereof and a cam follower integral with the other leg thereof.

Still another object of the present invention resides in a combination variable resistance and electrical switch control wherein the switch is mounted to and carried by the rear wall of the housing of the variable resistance control.

Yet an additional object of the present invention resides in a combination variable resistance and electrical switch control wherein the rear wall of the housing supporting the switch is provided with a plurality of depending feet for spacing the rear wall of the housing from a mounting panel.

Yet a further object of the present invention resides in r an electrical switch wherein the stationary terminal is integral with an electrically conductive housing for grounding a circuit.

Still another object of the present invention resides in a tease-proof snap action switch provided with a contact shoe and having a cam movable in a direction for increasing the pressure of the contact shoe against a stationary contact until the cam follower is in a labile neutral position at which instant the contact shoe snaps in the opposite direction for rapidly breaking the circuit.

Still a further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an electrical switch employing a cam engageable with a slideable contactor and movable in a direction opposite to the intended direction of movement of the contactor.

Still a further object of the present invention resides in the provision of an electrical control having a snap action contactor slideably and pivotally mounted on a supporting member for producing a wiping action between the contacts.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty characterizing the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Briefly, the present invention is concerned with an electrical control employing a contactor slideably shifted on a supporting member with a snap action to minimize arcing. The contactor comprises a contact shoe and a cam follower connected together by a resilient means. The contactor is slideably shifted in one direction only after the cam follower is moved through a labile neutral position by a cam or boss movable in a direction opposite to the one direction of the contactor in an interference path with a portion of the contactor. In one embodiment of the invention, the cam maintains the contactor in a stable position; otherwise a detent is integral with the cam follower and a detent receiving indentation carried by the supporting member maintains the contactor in a stable position. The contactor is of spring material and preferably of U-shaped construction when minimum operating space is preferred and only one contact shoe is necessary. Guide means are carried by the supporting member for limiting lateral movement of the contactor when the cam follower is shifted to the labile neutral position by a rectilinearly movable or rotatable cam. In one of the preferred embodiments, the switch is combined with a variable resistance control, and such embodiment comprises a cylindrical housing provided with one or two apertured end walls, A first base closes one apertured end wall and a second base having a supporting surface for slideably supporting the contactor closes the other end wall of the housing, the second base being fixed to or integral with the housing. A rotor or driver rotatably supported in the housing is provided with means for wiping contact with a resistance element disposed in the housing and a cam or boss means integral with the driver is engageable with the cam follower for slideably shifting the contactor between a first and second stable position with a snap action. In still another embodiment, a stationary contact is integral with the housing.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals have been applied to like parts and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a combination variable resistance and electrical switch control adapted for mounting into a perforated panel;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the control shown in FIGURE 1, a portion thereof being in section;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the electrical switch of the control shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 4A and 4B show additional embodiments of a contactor for the switch of the present invention;

FIGURE 5A is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIGURE 2 showing the movable contactor disengaged from the stationary contact;

FIGURES 5B, 5C, and 5D are fragmentary sections of the view shown in FIGURE 5A showing the contactor in various positions;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an electrical switch of the present invention with the cover removed and portions of the housing broken away to show the contactor;

FIGURE 7 is another embodiment of an electrical switch of the present invention wherein the actuating cam is rectilinearly movable and maintains the contactor in a first or second stable position;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of the electrical switch shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings;

FIGURE 9 is another embodiment showing a modified contactor employed in a SPDT switch; and

FIGURE 10 is still another embodiment of an elec trical switch of the present invention wherein the stationary contact is integral with an electrically conductive housing.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated an electrical control generally indicated at 11 comprising a variable resistance control 12 having an electrical switch 13 secured thereto.

Considering first the variable resistance control 12, it comprises a hollow cylindrical cover or housing 14 having apertured end walls. A base 15 of suitable electrically nonconductive material closes one of the end walls of the housing 14 and is fixedly secured to the housing with a plurality of cars 16 folded over the top surface of the base 15. Means defining an arcuate resistance path 17, e g., a carbon film resistance element, is suitably bonded or mechanically secured to the base 15 and the ends of the resistance path are connected to a pair of terminals 18. When a not-shown arcuate wirewound resistance element is employed instead of the carbon film resistance element, it is insulatedly disposed in the housing 14 in a 4. manner well known in the art. A collector ring 19 in fixed concentric relationship with respect to the resistance path 17 is provided with a center terminal 20, and a contactor 21 electrically connects the resistance path 17 to the collector ring 19.

A driver 22 integral with a shaft 23 extending through an opening provided in the base 15 is rotatably mounted in the housing 14 adjacent to the resistance path 17. The contactor 21 is fixedly secured to one side of the driver 22 and, therefore, constrained to rotate therewith for wiping contact with the resistance path 17 and the collector ring 19.

One of the means for mounting the electrical control 11 to a not-shown mounting panel with the shaft extending through an opening provided in the panel is of conventional construction and comprises a ground plate 24 generally provided with an extruded bushing 25 rotatably supporting the shaft 23. A pair of mounting ears 26 extend forwardly of the ground plate, and the ends of the ears 26 are twisted after the ears are disposed in openings provided in the mounting panel for securing the control thereto.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5 of the drawings, the electrical switch 13 comprises a stationary contact 27, a slideable contactor 28, and a guide arm 29 supporting the contactor 28 on a supporting member 30 of suitable electrically nonconductive material. A pair of terminals 31 and 32 integral with the stationary contact 27 and the giude arm 29 respectively extend through slots 33 in the supporting member 30 and are secured to the supporting member 30 by suitable means such as staking the edges 31a and 32a (see FIGURE 1) adjacent to the outer surface of the supporting member 30. The sides 33a of the slots are beveled to facilitate insertion of the terminals 31 and 32 into the slots 33. When it is preferable to dispose the terminals 31 and 32 in spaced parallel relationship to each other, a leg 27a connecting the stationary contact 27 to the terminal 31 is formed at an angle as shown in the drawings and, to restrict movement of the leg 27a and maintain the stationary contact 27 fixed with respect to the supporting member 30, a tongue 27b (see FIGURES 2 and 3) depending from the leg 27a is wedged in a notch 34. The guide arm 29 is provided with an end portion 29a spaced from and parallel to the inner surface 30a of the supporting member 30 for cagedly supporting and guiding the contactor 28 as it is shifted into and out of engagement with the stationary contact 27. An elongated notch 29b is provided in the guide arm 29 to facilitate staking of the terminal 32 to the supporting member. The supporting member 30 is also provided with an inwardly extending section or platform 35, a side of the platform forming a contactor retaining ridge or shoulder 35a in spaced relationship to the guide arm 29. A stop member 35b cooperating with the shoulder 35a limits slidea'ble movement of the contactor in one direction.

The supporting member 30 closes the other apertured end wall of the cylindrical housing 14 and is fixedly secured thereto and can be integral therewith. More specifically, a pair of tabs 14a extending rearwardly from the housing 14 and passing through a pair of slots 36 provided in the member 30 are folded over as shown in FIGURE *1 for securing the member 30 to the housing 14. Preferably the slots 36 are provided in recessed portions 3% of the member 30 in order that the tabs 14a will not interfere with mounting of the control 11 to a mounting panel 37. A plurality of rearwardly extending feet 38 integral with the member 30 space the control 11 from the mounting panel 37. The supporting member 30 is also provided with a plurality of inwardly extending feet 39 (see FIGURES 3 and 5A) engaging the inner edge of the other apertured end wall of the housing 14 for facilitating alignment of the housing 14 with respect to the member 30.

As illustrated and in a preferred form of the invention,

another means, in the alternative, is employed for mounting or holding the rear of the control 11 to the mounting panel 37. Each of the terminals 31 and 32 preferably is provided with a pair of slots 31b and 32b respectively having a sufficient opening for engaging the mounting panel 37, one side of each of the slots 31b and 32b preferably being at an angle to the supporting member to compensate for different thicknesses of mounting panel, and the center terminal 20 is provided with an offset portion or spring finger 20a engageable with the panel 37. The perforation 37a in the panel 37 receiving the terminal 20 is spaced from the perforations 37b receiving the terminals 31 and 32 a distance less than the distance between the center terminal 20 and the terminals 31 and 32 for compressing the spring finger 20a of the center terminal 20 against the terminals 31 and 32 thereby engaging portions of the mounting panel 37 below the perforations 37b with the slots 31b and 32b. The mounting panel 37 supporting the control 11 and other not-shown printed circuits and controls can then be dip soldered in a simple and facile manner. The reduced cross section of each terminal resulting from the slots 31b and 32b also reduces the heat transfer from the ends of the terminals to the stationary contact and the guide arm during the soldering operation. I

In one of the preferred forms of the present invention, the contactor 28 is of U-shaped construction having an arcuate contact shoe 28a integrally secured to one leg and a cam follower 28b integrally secured to the other leg of the contactor 28. When the cam follower 28b is integral with the contact shoe 28a, it is preferable that the contactor 28 be of electrically conducting resilient spring material to permit flexing or movement of the cam follower 28b with respect to the contact shoe 28a or other leg of the contactor. The cam follower is preferably V- shaped, one leg of the V being connected to the one leg of the contactor. It is to be understood, however, that the contact shoe 28a need not be integral with the cam follower 28b and contactors 40 and 41 such as shown in FIGURES 4A or 43 can readily be employed when it is desirable to increase the current rating of the switch 13 or provide a SPDT switch. 'For example, the contact shoe 40a can be of a material having optimum current carrying properties and the spring 40b and cam follower' 40c of a material having optimum spring characteristics. The spring 40b is fixedly secured to the contact shoe 40a in a suitable manner such as with rivets or spot welding.

For the purpose of shifting the contactor 28 slideably into and out of engagement with the stationary contact 27, means in the form of a boss or a cam 42 movable in an interference path with the contactor and integral with the driver 22 is employed. Assuming that the switch 13 is in the off position, in other words, that the contact shoe 28a is not in intimate engagement with or biased against the stationary contact 27, rotation of the cam 42 in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIGURE A of the drawings, causes the leading edge 42a of the cam 42 to force the cam follower 28b downwardly or toward the one leg of the contactor 28, i.e., transversely of the contactor and, as the cam 42 continues to rotate in the clockwise direction, the apex or lobe 42b of the cam 42 eventually engages the apex 280 of the cam follower 28b, hereinafter such position being referred to as the labile neutral position (see FIGURE 5B). Due to the energy stored in the spring 28d of the contactor resulting from moving the cam follower 28b downwardly toward the one leg of the contactor 28 to the labile neutral position, the spring of the contactor 28 instantaneously urges the cam follower to the position shown in FIGURE 5C of the drawings. Thus the contactor 28 initially in a first stable position shifts to a second stable position with a snap action as the cam 42 moves from one side of the apex 280 of the cam follower 28b to the other side thereof. As best seen in FIGURES 5B and 5C of the drawings, the one leg of the cam follower is at a slight angle to the trailing edge 420 of the cam before the snap action occurs. It is essential that this slight angle exist, otherwise there would be no shifting of the contactor. The one leg of the cam follower functions as a wedge as it engages the trailing edge 420 of the cam causing rapid movement or ideal snap action of the contactor 28. Moreover, it is essential'in the switch 13 of the present invention that the cam 42 always move in a direction opposite to the intended direction of movement of the contactor when operation of the switch is desired; otherwise the contactor does not move through a critical or labile neutral position and the desirable rapid snap action is not obtained. The assembly of the contactor 28 and the guide arm 29 to the supporting member 30 is greatly facilitated since, if the cam 42 is initially on the wrong side of the contactor, the cam can readily be rotated to the proper side.

If the cam 42 continues to remain in the position shown in FIGURE 5C of the drawings, i.e., if further rotation of the cam 42 is halted, the inherent resiliency of the spring 28d of the contactor 28 due to partial compression of the legs thereof will continue to bias the contact shoe 28a against the stationary contact 27. However, when the cam is integral with the driver of a variable resistance control 12 generally rotatable through a wide angle after the switch is closed, it is necessary that other means be provided for improving and increasing the combination between the variable resistance control 12 and the switch 13 and for maintaining the legs of the contactor 28 in a compressed position. To this end, the shoulder 35a formed by the raised platform 35 is provided with an abutment 35c for maintaining the cam follower 28b and the contact shoe 28a of the contactor 28 in the second stable position (see FIGURE 5C). The cam 42 can, therefore, continue to rotate in the clockwise position beyond the direction shown in FIGURE 5C of the drawings.

For the purpose of limiting rotation of the contact assembly 21 with respect to the arcuate resistance path 17, the driver 22 is provide-d with a stop member 43 engageable with a stop 44 formed in the housing 14. Because of the improved combination between the variable resistance control 12 and the switch 13, the stop member 43 and the cam 42 are disposed in the same plane permitting a substantial reduction in the depth of the housing 14 of the electrical control 11. In essence, an annular passageway extends around the inner edge of the housing (see FIG- URES 2 and 5A) obstructed only by the stop 44. The stationary contact 27, the contactor 28, and the guide arm 29 are disposed within the annular passageway. The performance of the control 11 is also improved since the driver 22 is provided with a stub shaft 23a journaled in a bearing 300 provided in the supporting member 30. It is, therefore, obvious that the combination of a variable resistance control and electrical switch control 11 is improved by decreasing the number of elements, increasing the cooperation between the variable resistance control p and the switch, and reducing the length of the control 11. The stop member 43 carried by the driver 22 limiting rotation of the cam 42 to an angle less than 360 upon engagement with the stop 44 also prevents the cam 42 from engaging the cam follower from the wrong direction when the contact shoe 28a is biased against the stationary contact 27 thereby preventing the contactor 28 from moving to the disengaged position with an undesirable action. Thus, when the switch 13 is employed with an electrical component not having a stop, additional stop means is required to limit angular rotation of the cam.

To open the switch 13 or disengage the contact shoe 28:: from the stationary contact 27, it is necessary that the driver 22 be rotated in a counterclockwise direction until the cam is in the position shown in FIGURE 50 of the drawings. Further rotation of the cam in the counterclockwise direction of the drawings increases the pressure of the contact shoe 2811 against the stationary contact 27 and, at the instant the cam follower passes the labile neu- 7 tral position (see FIGURE D), the contactor 28 shifts in the opposite direction away from the stationary contact to the first stable position. The stop 35b limits movement of the contactor 28 in the opposite direction.

In order to maintain the contactor in the first stable position, i.e., the off position of the switch, it is necessary that additional means for biasing the contactor be employed. In some controls the stop member 43 carried by the driver 22 can be properly located with respect to the stop 44 provided in the housing 14 to limit further rotation of the cam 42 in the counterclockwise direction beyond the position shown in FIGURE 5A of the drawings, and accordingly, the cam 42 will maintain the contactor 28 in the first stable position. Obviously, further rotation of the cam 42 in the counterclockwise direction will eliminate biasing of the contactor against the stop 35b, and inadvertent movement of the switch 13 can shift the contact shoe 38a into engagement with the stationary contact 27 without a snap action. Thus, additional means is provided for maintaining the contactor 28 in the first stable position when the cam 39 can be rotated in the counterclockwise direction beyond the position shown in FIGURE 5A of the drawings. The additional means comprises a detent receiving indentation 35d provided adjacent to the abutment 35c and the apex of the cam follower 28b functions as a detent when disposed in the indentation 35d maintaining the contactor 28 in the first stable position.

Preferably and in accord with the present invention, the guide arm 29 is provided with a fulcrum 45 normal to the major axis of the one leg of the contactor 28 for pivotally shifting or wiping the contact shoe 28a against the stationary contact 27. The fulcrum 45 is disposed slightly forward of the center portion of the guide arm 29 for positioning the contactor at a small angle relative to the notch 29b when the contactor is in either of the stable positions. Due to the rapid movement or snap action of the contactor 28 from the first to the second stable position, the contactor does not pivot on the fulcrum 45 until after the contact shoe 28a engages the stationary contacts 27. Thus the initial point of contact between the contact shoe 28a and the stationary contact 27 where arcing is most likely to occur is different from the final or stable point of contact. The contact shoe 28a is also preferably curved upwardly from the one leg of the contactor in order that the point of contact will not be on the slideable portion of the contactor 28 thereby assuring that the slideability of the contactor will not be affected by pitting of a portion of the contact shoe 28a due to arcing. The stationary contact 27 is preferably curved to raise or space the point of initial contact or arcing from the supporting surface 30a (see FIGURE 2).

In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, the switch housing 110 is in the shape of a disc when it is desirable to secure a plurality of switches 111 together. The switch housing 110 is provided with a pair of spaced transverse openings 112 for receiving a pair of not-shown struts or tie rods permitting assembly of several switch housings 110 to each other or to a not-shown multiple contact rotary switch. The internal construction of the housing 110 supporting the switch parts is of similar construction to the switch shown in FIGURES 1-5 of the drawings except that the terminals 113 and 114 extend outwardly from the side of the housing 110 instead of the rear thereof and the cam 115 is provided with a square bore 116 or the like engageable with a suitable not-shown shaft.

In an additional embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings, a contactor 121 constructed in accord with the present invention and provided with a cam follower 121a and a contact shoe 121b is disposed in a housing 122 having a rectilinearly movable cam 123 carried by a switch actuator 123a. The cam 123 is biased against the cam follower 121a by a spring 124 maintaining the contact shoe 121b of the contactor 121 in engagement with a stationary contact 125 when the contactor is in one of the stable positions. The energy stored in the spring 124 is less than the energy required to shift the cam follower 121a downwardly thereby assuring a stable position for the cam 123 on either side of the cam follower 121a. It is, therefore, not necessary to provide an abutment or a detent receiving indentation respectively for maintaining the contactor biased against the stationary contact 125 or away therefrom. As the cam 123 is shifted longitudinally toward the cam follower in the direction of the arrow 126, the cam follower 121a moves downwardly until disposed in a labile neutral position at which instant the contactor shifts in the opposite direction with a snap action. The cam continues to maintain the contactor in either of the stable positions since further movement of the cam is limited by the edge 127a of the slot 127. A contactor 130 as shown in FIGURE 9 of the drawings, can also be employed with a rectilinearly movable or rotatable cam 131 thereby providing a SPDT switch. Two contactors 130 can be employed in parallel when a DPDT switch is desired.

In still another embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGURE 10 of the drawings, a stationary contact extends inwardly of a housing 141 and is integral therewith for engaging a contactor 142 when the contactor 142 is in the second stable position. Shoulder 143 provides another limit when the contactor 142 is shifted in the other direction shown by arrow 144. Such switch construction is preferable whenever one side of a circuit is connected to ground as in electrical circuits for automobiles. Thus only five parts are necessary for obtaining optimum or ideal snap action of a contactor in a switch, namely the housing 141, the contactor 142, a supporting member 145, a guide arm 146 and a cam 147. Moreover, when the switch is connected in combination with another control such as a variable resistance control, additional parts can be eliminated, e.g., an additional cover for the variable resistance control is not necessary and the cam 147 becomes an integral part of a driver of the variable resistance control. When the spring 142a of the contactor 142 functions as the contact engaging portion of the contactor, it is preferable that a fulcrum be disposed on the other side of the center line of the guide arm 146 and, when the guide arm is employed in various embodiments, a pair of fulcrums can be formed on the 'guide arm or an elongated fulcrum 148 as shown in FIGURE 10 of the drawings can be employed.

While there has been illustrated and described what is at present considered to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and several modifications thereof, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications are likely to occur to those skilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a switch, the combination of an electrically nonconductive supporting member, a terminal having a stationary contact carried by the supporting member, a second terminal fixed to the supporting member, a movable spring contactor supported by the second terminal, first means for limiting the amount of movement of the contactor away from the stationary contact, said movable spring contactor including means integral with the contactor for establishing a conductive path between the stationary contact and the second terminal, second means for maintaining the movable spring contactor in a first position biased against the stationary contact, a resilient cam follower integral with the movable spring contactor, and a cam movable in an interference path with the cam follower thereby to compress the cam follower to a labile neutral position as the cam moves into engagement therewith, said movable spring contactor rapidly moving with a snap action in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cam.

2. An electrical switch comprising an electrically nonconductive supporting member, a pair of terminals mounted in the supporting member in spaced relationship to each other, a movable contactor, guide means integral with one of the terminals for guiding the contactor from a first position to a second position, resilient means including a cam follower integral with the movable cont-actor, and a cam movable in an interference path with the cam follower thereby to compress the cam follower to a labile neutral position as the cam moves into engagement therewith, said movable contactor rapidly moving with a snap action in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cam.

3. In an electrical switch, the combination of a housing, a pair of terminals disposed in the housing in spaced relationship to each other, a stationary contact connected to one of the terminals, a movable contactor, the other terminal supporting the movable contactor and electrically connected therewith while the movable contactor is in or out of engagement with the stationary contact, resilient means integral with the movable contactor, and cam means engageable with a portion of the resilient means and movable in an interference path with the movable contactor, the cam means initially compressively moving the resilient means to a labile neutral position before movement of the contactor occurs, continued movement of the cam means releasing the resilient means whereby the movable contactor rapidly moves with a snap action in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cam means, and means for maintaining the movable contactor in a position out of engagement with the stationary contact, said means com-prising an indentation for receiving said resilient means only when the movable contactor is out of engagement with the stationary contact.

4. An electrical switch comprising a housing provided with an electrically nonconductive supporting surface, a stationary contact disposed adjacent to the surface of the housing, a movable contactor mounted in the housing and movable from a first position where the contactor engages the stationary contact to a second position, means for maintaining the movable contactor in one of the positions, a detent integral with the movable contactor and engageable with said means, and a cam movable in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the contactor for moving the contactor from the first position to the second position after the contactor is biased to a labile neutral position.

5. An electrical switch comprising a housing, a stationary contact disposed in the housing, a contactor slideably mounted in the housing, said contactor comprising a detent, a contact shoe, and a resilient portion connecting the detent to the contact portion, the housing being provided with an indentation for receiving the detent, and a cam movable in a direction opposite to the intended direction of movement of the contactor for moving the contactor from a first position Where the contactor engages the stationary contact to a second position and for shifting the detent into and out of the indentation.

6. An electrical switch comprising an electrically nonconductive supporting member, a pair of terminals mounted on the supporting member in spaced relationship to each other, a movable spring contactor, detent receiving means for maintaining the movable spring contactor in a first stable position and for limiting movement of the movable spring contactor from the first stable position to a second position, a resilient detent connected to the contactor, and engageable with the detent receiving means for retention thereby, a cam having surfaces in an interference path with the resilient detent for shifting the detent into and out of engagement with the detent receiving means, and a cam driver integral with the cam, displacement of the cam driver causing one of the surfaces of the cam to engage with and compressively displace the resilient detent to a labile neutral position storing energy therein, the stored energy being released rapidly when the lobe of the cam passes the resilient detent, the movable spring contactor rapidly moving with a snap action motion in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cam when the lobe of the cam passes the resilient detent.

7. In an electrical switch, the combination of a supporting surface, conductive means disposed in fixed relationship to the supporting surface, a stationary contact, a contactor movably supported for limited movement on the conductive means while the contactor is in or out of engagement with the stationary contact, a resilient cam follower integral with the contactor, a displaceable driver supported for movement relative to the supporting surface, and a cam carried by and displaced with the driver, the cam having surfaces in an interference path with the resilient cam follower, displacement of the driver causing one of the surfaces of the cam to engage with and compressively displace the resilient cam follower thereby to move the resilient cam follower to a labile neutral position and store energy therein, said stored energy being released with a snap action motion when the cam passes the center of the resilient cam follower in one direction, the contactor rapidly moving with a snap action in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cam.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the stationary contact engageable by the contactor is mounted adjacent to the supporting surface, and a fulcrum is carried by the conductive means for pivotally moving the contactor when slideably shifted from one position to another.

9. An electrical switch comprising an electrically conductive cylindrical housing having an apertured end wall,

an electrically nonconductive supporting member closing one of the end walls of the cylindrical housing, a stationary contact integral with the cylindrical housing, a slideable contactor, a guide terminal carried by the supporting member, a platform mounted on the supporting member defining a contactor retaining portion engageable with the contactor and cooperating with the guide terminal for limiting transverse and longitudinal movement of the contactor, the contactor being in engagement with the guide terminal while the contactor is in or out of engagement with the stationary contact, a detent connected to the contactor, a detent receiving indentation cooperating with the contactor retaining portion, and a cam for moving the detent into and out of the detent receiving indentation thereby moving the contactor into and out of engagement with the stationary contact.

10. In an electrical switch, the combination of a cylindrical housing having an apertured wall, an electrically nonconductive supporting member fixedly secured to the housing and closing the wall, a pair of terminals mounted in the supporting member in spaced relationship to each other, a stationary contact connected to one of the terminals, supporting means provided on the other terminal, a movable contactor on the supporting means for movement into or out of engagement with the stationary contact, retaining means for maintaining the movable contactor in a first position out of engagement with the stationary contact, said retaining means limiting movement of the movable contactor in one direction, the stationary contact limiting movement of the movable contactor in the opposite direction, a resilient cam follower integral with the movable contactor, and a cam for engaging and compressively displacing said resilient cam follower integral with the movable contactor and storing energy therein, said stored energy being released with a snap action motion thereby to snap the movable contactor into or out of engage-ment with the stationary contact.

11. The electric switch of claim 10 wherein said retaining means includes a detent receiving indentation disposed to receive the resilient cam follower and thereby maintain the movable contactor in a first position, and an abutment cooperating with the resilient cam follower for maintaining the movable contactor in a second position.

12. An electrical switch comprising a housing, a terminal provided with a stationary contact fixedly secured to the housing, a contactor having a pair of resiliently connected legs slideably mounted in the housing, a guide arm longitudinally guiding and limiting movement of the contactor, terminals connected to the stationary contact and to the guide arm, a contact shoe integral with the one leg of the contactor, a cam follower integral with the other leg of the contactor and movable from a first position to a second position with respect to the one leg, and a cam movable in a direction opposite to the intended direction of movement of the contactor for shifting the cam follower from the first position to the second position before the contact shoe is slideably shifted into engagement with the stationary contact.

13. In an electrical control, the combination of a cylindrical housing having apertured end walls, a base closing one of the end walls fixedly secured to the housing, means defining a resistance path and a conductive path carried by the base, a supporting member closing the other end wall fixedly secured to the housing, a driver disposed in the housing between the base and the supporting member, rotatable means supporting the driver in the housing, means carried by the driver for wiping contact with the first mentioned means, a movable contactor, means for limiting movement of the contactor, a resilient cam follower integral with the contactor, a terminal disposed in the housing and supporting the movable contactor, and a cam carried by the driver for engaging and compressively displacing the cam follower and storing energy in the movable contactor, said stored energy being released with a snap action motion whereby the movable contactor rapidly moves in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cam.

14. The control of claim 13, wherein a stop member is carried by the driver and extends from the same side of the driver as the cam and a stop disposed in the housing limits angular rotation of the driver when engaged by the stop member.

15. The control of claim 13, wherein a plurality of feet extend inwardly of the supporting member and cooperate with the housing for aligning the supporting member with the housing.

16. In a component, the combination of a contactor supporting member, a contactor slideably supported for limited movement on the contactor supporting member, resilient means including a cam follower integral with the contactor, and means for sliding the contactor along the supporting member, the means for sliding the contactor comprising a cam having surfaces in an interference path with the cam follower, displacement of the cam causing one of the surfaces of the cam to engage with and compress the resilient means to a labile neutral position, said contactor rapidly moving with a snap action motion in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cam as the cam follower is moved through the labile neutral position.

17. In a control, means providing a contact surface, a movable contactor having a portion thereof adapted for sliding movement across the contact surface, a resilient cam follower forming an integral part of the movable contactor, and a cam having surfaces in an interference path with the cam follower and operably engageable with the cam follower, displacement of the cam causing one of the surfaces of the cam to engage with and compress the resilient cam follower to a labile neutral position, said contactor rapidly moving with a snap action motion in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the cam as the resilient cam follower moves beyond the labile neutral position.

18. A snap switch comprising a housing having open ends, insulating means closing said open ends of said housing, a control shaft rotatably journaled in said housing and projecting through one of the insulating means, a rotor in said housing and carried by and displaced with said shaft, a plurality of terminal means carried by another one of said insulating means, groove means within said housing, one of said terminal means being predeterminately spaced from the other terminal means, displaceable spring means supported on one of said terminal means, a section of said spring means normally interfitting with said groove means so that said spring means is compressively retained thereby, and boss means carried by and displaced with said rotor, said boss means having surfaces and an apex in an interference path with said section of said spring means, displacement of said shaft causing one of said surfaces of said boss means to engage with and compressively displace said spring means storing energy therein, the stored energy being released with a snap action motion when the apex of said boss means passes said section of said spring means thereby displacing said spring means so that said section of said spring means disengages said groove means and said spring means is guided by said boss means to a position substantially between said terminal means thereby allowing said spring means to engage with said terminal means and be compressively retained against said terminal means.

19. A switch comprising a housing having open ends, insulating means closing said open ends of said housing, a control shaft rotatably journaled in said insulating means and projecting through one of said insulating means, a rotor in said housing and carried by and displaced with said shaft, a plurality of terminal means carried by another one of said insulating means, groove means within said housing, one of said terminal means being predeterminately spaced from the other of said terminal means, displaceable spring means supported on one of the terminal means and a section of said spring means normally interfitting with said groove means so that said spring means is compressively retained by the groove means, and boss means carried by and displaced with said rotor, said boss means having surfaces in an interference path with said section of said spring means, displacement of said shaft causing one of said surfaces of said boss means to engage with and compressively displace said spring means storing energy therein, the stored energy being released with a snap action motion when the apex of said boss means passes said section of said spring means thereby displacing said spring means so that said section of said spring means disengages said groove means and said spring means is guided by said boss means to a position substantially between said terminal means thereby allowing said spring means to engage with said terminal means and be compressively retained against said terminal means, said rotor carrying wiper nib means wipably engageable with resistance means carried by said one insulating means, said wiper nib means being displaced on said resistance means by displacement of said shaft thereby varying the resistance of said resistance means.

20. A two-position switch comprising a housing having open ends, means closing said open ends of said housing, a control shaft rotatably journaled in the housing, a rotor in said housing carried by and displaced with said shaft, a plurality of terminal means carried by one of said means closing said open ends of the housing, a displaceable spring contactor supported by one of said plurality of terminal means for moving into and out of engagement with another of said plurality of terminal means for making and breaking an electrical connection therebetween, said displaceable spring contactor movable through a labile neutral position while being moved into and out of engagement with said another of said plurality of terminal means, energy being stored in the displaceable spring contactor while in the labile neutral position, means within the housing including a detent groove for compressively retaining the displaceable spring contactor out of engagement with said another of said terminal means, and boss means carried by and displaced with said rotor, said boss means having surfaces in an interference path with said displaceable spring contactor for shifting the displaceable spring contactor through the labile neutral position, displacement of said shaft causing one of said surfaces of said boss means to engage with and compressively displace said spring contactor to the labile neutral position storing energy therein, said stored energy being released with a snap action when said boss means passes said displaceable spring contactor to release the displaceable spring contactor from the labile neutral position, the displaceable spring contactor rapidly moving with a snap action in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of the boss means when the displaceable spring contactor is released from the labile neutral position, whereby the displaceable spring contactor may alternately compressively engage said terminal means and said detent groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,676,608 7/1928 Hubbell 20068 Fitzgerald 20068 Winger. Krieger. Von Hoorn. Foster et al. Daily et al. Hathorn. Carling. Gluck. Sorenson. Siiberg 20067 Gluck. Campbell. Hemmens 20065 Burns 20067 RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

I. G. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

